SolarCity’s Battle With the Feds Ends With a $29.5 Million Fine and a Shrug

By [email protected] Five years ago, when then-startup solar company SolarCity was getting ready to go public, it revealed something quite unusual: It was under investigation by the U.S. government. The Department of Treasury was investigating the solar installer for possibly overstating the claims it had made to a government grant program.

Now years later — after the company has undergone dramatic changes since being acquired by electric-car maker Tesla — the issue has finally been resolved. Although the solution isn’t ideal for the developer.

Last week, the Justice Department announced that SolarCity has agreed to pay $29.5 million to settle allegations that it submitted